Saturday, January 17, 2009

Kinky Friedman writes about a friend of his catching him walking down Congress Avenue on a fine day in Austin, TX. "Kinky!" his friend said "Don't walk, it's bad for your image!" and drove his friend away in a 1970s Caddy.

Well, I think it has to change. Americans have traded in their legs for driver's licenses since cars got easy to obtain.It's a rite of passage and a status symbol. Think about how you feel about people on foot in your neighborhood (when not attached to a dog) or people at the bus stop. Do you think they are model citizens, or something else?

Lots of buses, especially in CenTex, run on compressed natural gas and scarcely leave a mark in the air. They are timely, comfortable and air conditioned. Techies can goof off on Facebook or read Michael Pollan. Money for gas, repairs, insurance, car payments, can go to travel, education, housing, better food.. Whatever you like. Let your taxes do the walking.

I walk to work these days. Maryland is experiencing single digit cold, and our little Frederick is inadequately prepared or educated for the pedestrian. I'm still walking. Not too smart, you see. Not a little bit stubborn. I must say that Frederick is way better than Indianapolis, where walking was exceeded only by biking as social suicide (and sometimes actual, if you tried it on Pendleton Pike!). Maryland is a bit more socialist in its approach to transportation, but Frederick in particular is kind of spotty in its support of walkers.

As I leave our slightly depressed little neighborhood, including an old folk's home and an elementary school, there are no Walk signs at 7th and Bentz/Motter, or at Dill/Rosemont further into town.

A crosswalk sign in neon yellow sticking up out of the crosswalk itself, adorns the Church/Bentz crossing.Most of the time,drivers are civil and honor the crosswalk. I don't take long on my two little tootsies. I always wave thanks.

Whose time is so important, that they can threaten a human life?Something all those drivers with their dog in their lap, texting or talking while piloting a ton or so of homicidal metal, might consider.

A driver who doesn't care for the law or courtesy is a psychopath. They belong in jail. Seriously. The petrochemical industry wants us to drive, to use the overabundance of corn ethanol and Middle Eastern oil. Happy to serve these masters?Then keep driving every step of every day. Let them own you.

I decided to get free and use my own feet and legs, which belong to me, to earn my keep. We have a car, but we don't use it that often. I organized my life around trying to get a little distance from car addiction. Fortunately we can do that in this city.

Sometimes I wonder whatever happened, to Noblesse Oblige.Most people are good and decent and slightly amused by the persistence of pedestrians. Fortunately, I blow more kisses than other things, every day. That's why I enjoy Frederick, and have hopes for the future.